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UN remembers the dead in Gaza

8 August 2014. The United Nations flag was flying at half-mast at the world organization´s headquarters in New York in memory of staff members killed in Gaza. Staff members in offices all over the world (including UNRIC, photo) observed one minute of silence in memory of the 11 UNRWA staff members killed since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza on 8 July, and in solidarity with the families and friends of those injured.

“We are honoured and touched by the many expressions of sympathy and actions of support we have witnessed,” said UNRWA Commissioner General, Pierre Krähenbühl.

The sad loss of life of UN staff, however, pales in comparison to the number of deaths, notably of civilians and children in the conflict. Search and rescue workers are still retrieving bodies from previously inaccessible areas, but according to figures from the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) from 6 August those who have died in the conflict in Gaza, are overwhelmingly civilian Palestinians:

When the Security Council approaches the final stage of negotiation of a draft resolution the text is printed in blue... What's in Blue helps interested UN readers keep up with what might soon be "in blue".

The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.